Northland leisure marching team all about fun, fitness and friendship

The Far North’s Northland Tui Marching team competed in the recent Tauranga Leisure Marching Display Day.

Leisure marching can be a serious business for many people taking part, but it’s all about fun, fitness and friendship and a Far North marching team experienced all that and more at a recent display day in Tauranga.

The Northland Tui Marching team, based in Kerikeri, was among 50 from around the country that took part in the recent Tauranga Leisure Marching Display Day, and the team had a wonderful time, spokeswoman Lesley Haslar said.

It is a uniquely Kiwi sport and leisure marching is making a big comeback with several Northland teams gaining new membership as the activity takes off again.

Haslar said the Tauranga Leisure Marching Display Day was an event filled with fun, fitness and friendship and a special long weekend for the Northland Tui Marching Team.

“Fifty display teams met at the Mercury Baypark Arena [on October 18] at 9.15am where a salute was taken by former Silver Fern Casey Kopua, followed by the National Anthem sung by The Roche Sisters.

“Thirty of the teams marched through the morning. The balance finishing after a half hour lunch break, during which the Beat Boy Drummers - five 12- to 14-year-old boys, played amazing music. Thank you, Beat Boys.”

Haslar said around 2pm a ‘Maze March’ was then enjoyed by all.

“It was a fabulous finish to a fabulous day. Brian Yanko did an excellent job as the speaker, with individual music for each team. A big thank you from the Northland Tui Marching Team for the invitation to such a special well-run event.”

With more women taking up the sport, the Leisure Marching Nationals will be held in Whangārei in 2029.

Whangārei’s Purple Reign and Northland Tui leisure marching teams were among those in the Leisure Marching National Finals in Palmerston North earlier this year.

For more information go to www.northlandtuis.org.nz, or www.leisuremarching.org.nz.

With its growing popularity, new leisure marching teams are being formed in Northland.

While leisure marching involves plenty of discipline and intricate routines, there is no competition or judging: teams simply put on a five-minute display.

Lyn Hutchings, who coaches three leisure marching teams in Northland, said many leisure marchers used to do competitive marching when they were younger and wanted to get back into the sport.